Citizens intending to submit new applications for smart ID cards or passports via the Department of Home Affairs' (DHA's) online portal will not be able to do so this weekend.

The DHA says this is due to system maintenance, and the online applications portal, eHomeAffairs, will be back up on Monday, 18 March.

Introduced in 2016, the eHomeAffairs portal allows Gauteng and Cape Town citizens to apply for their smart IDs and passports online, and finalise the application process at the department's front offices.

The department's partnership with the four major banks (Absa, First National Bank, Nedbank and Standard Bank) also makes it easy for customers to complete their applications at certain bank branches.

According to the department, all other services, including manual applications for smart IDs and passports, will be available at home affairs front offices across the country.

The department has extended apologies to affected clients for the inconvenience.